Flu Vaccinations

The influenza vaccination is an annual vaccination using a vaccine specific for a given year to protect against the highly variable influenza virus. Each seasonal influenza vaccine contains antigens representing three (trivalent vaccine) or four (quadrivalent vaccine) influenza virus strains: one influenza type A subtype H1N1 virus strain, one influenza type A subtype H3N2 virus strain, and either one or two influenza type B virus strains. Influenza vaccines are usually administered as an injection, also known as a flu shot.

The NZ Ministry of Health states that influenza is a significant public health issue and recommends immunisation as the best defense against catching influenza.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that everyone over the ages of 6 months should receive the seasonal influenza vaccine annually. Those who are at high risk of serious complications if they catch the flu, are people over 65 years and people living with chronic illness or with weakened immune systems, as well as health care workers.

Most flu vaccines provide significant protection against the virus.